When I was growing up, my grandfather always told me to never trust the Democratic Party. "They're not as bad as the Republicans." he always said, "but they're bad in their own way. They make believe they stand up for the working class, but they're just out for themselves." Even back then, it was clear the party was dominated by careerists. The Republicans complain about their party in the same way. So it probably surprised no one that most Americans-- across the board-- think we need another political party. Gallup confirmed it this week.
Amid the government shutdown, 60% of Americans say the Democratic and Republicans parties do such a poor job of representing the American people that a third major party is needed. That is the highest Gallup has measured in the 10-year history of this question. A new low of 26% believe the two major parties adequately represent Americans.…Republicans (52%) and Democrats (49%) are similar in their perceptions that a third party is needed. In fact, this marks the first time that a majority of either party's supporters have said a third party is needed. As would be expected, a majority of independents-- those who profess no initial allegiance to either party-- have always said the U.S. needs a third party. Seventy-one percent currently hold that view, which has been exceeded twice before, in 2007 and 2010.Given the inability of the Republican and Democratic parties to agree on the most basic of government functions-- passing an annual budget to pay for federal programs-- it is perhaps not surprising that the percentage of Americans who believe a third party is needed has never been higher.However, the desire for a third party is not sufficient to ensure there will be one. Structural factors in the U.S. election system and the parties' own abilities to adapt to changing public preferences have helped the Republican and Democratic parties to remain the dominant parties in U.S. government for more than 150 years. Third parties that have emerged to challenge their dominance have not been able to sustain any degree of electoral success.
That said, it is interesting to note that the GOP base is supporting primaries against GOP leaders. Mark Bevin is running a grassroots campaign, backed by Tea Party activists, against Mitch McConnell in Kentucky and in western Ohio, where the DCCC never gives John Boehner any trouble at all-- and, in fact, undercuts and humiliates any grassroots Democrat who tries to run against him-- it looks like a lively primary against Boehner is shaping up now. Joseph "J.D." Winteregg, a Troy school teacher, teababgger and founder of the Ohio Accountability Project, announced he was taking on Boehner 2 weeks ago. He's basing his challenge on what he calls a the gulf between the interests and values of the district and Boehner. The media hasn't covered it much.
At part of his launch, Winteregg kicked off his campaign with an Oct. 1 segment on the “Morning Blaze Show with Doc Thompson,” part of Glenn Beck’s The Blaze Radio Network.Thompson was skeptical when he heard Winteregg was a schoolteacher, and he became even more skeptical when he heard the candidate is a French teacher. “A French teacher?!? Oooo.”Winteregg told him not to worry, especially considering that he was a French teach, who has actually been to France. “After my time with that socialist government-- you know, I lived and worked there-- I made a vow that I would never let that happen in America,” he said.“I love the culture, I love the people, but I despise the politics, but we are clearly trending that way,” he said.One of the reasons, America is trending in the wrong direction is the buffer between Washington and the American people, where now politicians in Washington is more interested in pleasing lobbyists that the voters, who sent them to the nation’s capital, he said to Thompson.“All representatives must live among their constituents. The number of days they spend in Washington, D.C. will be capped,” he said. “With the technology that exists, and with the need to diminish the lobbyist influence, this mandate will ensure that the representatives do what they’re meant to do-- represent the people.”Despite the long odds, a Sept. 4 Human Events/Gravis poll of Republican voters in Boehner’s district showed that 50 percent would welcome a primary challenge to the Speaker.The poll also showed:• 17 percent of the voters support military action in support of the Syrian rebels;• 65 percent want Speaker Boehner to push to defund Obamacare “even if it means a government shutdown;”• 65 percent want Speaker Boehner to call a special committee to investigate the Benghazi incident;• 48 percent believe Speaker Boehner is not doing enough to lower taxes and spending.“After having spent a productive and informative year going around the district, getting to know the awesome Tea Party-Liberty leaders, and listening to the people in the district, I can honestly say that this race is absolutely winnable,” the schoolteacher said.“It’s going to require a lot of teamwork, though. What I’m looking for is willing volunteers who would like to contribute time to this campaign,” he said.Winteregg, who led an August “Defund Obamacare” rally in front of one of Boehner’s local congressional offices, said people in the district are tired of the Speaker failure to repeal President Barack Obama’s health care law.
It's disappointing that, so far this year, no grassroots Democrats have setpped up to the plate to challenge establishment careerist Democrats like Steny Hoyer, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Steve Israel, Joe Crowley or other party leaders who serve nothing but themselves.